{"id":11345,"date":"2022-08-04T15:43:31","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T15:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/?p=11345"},"modified":"2022-08-10T05:18:47","modified_gmt":"2022-08-10T05:18:47","slug":"learning-mingling-and-connecting-with-god-and-neighbour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/learning-mingling-and-connecting-with-god-and-neighbour\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning, Mingling, and Connecting With God and Neighbour"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>04 August 2022 | Lahti, Finland [Marcos Paseggi for Trans-European Division News]<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s 6:30 am on 4 August, and in Lahti, Finland, the summer Nordic sun has been already up for 90 minutes. In the cool, almost crip morning breeze, dozens of Adventist young people walk through a dirt road by the Lahti Sport and Fair Centre, venue of the Europe\u2019s 2022 Adventist Youth Congress (AYC22). They are looking for the signs that points them to the entrance of the Prayer Walk.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11350\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11350\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-2-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11350\" src=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-2-1.jpg 630w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-2-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-2-1-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-2-1-350x197.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11350\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Young hikers from Wales and Poland share a light moment by a pond, part of the Prayer Walk course in the Finnish forest in Lahti, on 4 August 2022. [Photos: Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Prayer Walk is a special hiking course which follows through eight stations with signs reflecting on a specific section of the Lord\u2019s Prayer. Hikers are invited to stop to read the text posted on signs nailed to trees (translated into 14 languages) and pray.<\/p>\n<p>The course includes a stop by a pond, where hikers can stop to reflect and pray surrounded by lush coniferous trees. It seems an apt start for another day of learning, mingling, and connecting with God and other people. It is a moment of communion for longstanding and newly found friends alike.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11351\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11351\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11351 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-3.jpg 630w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-3-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-3-350x197.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11351\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">AYC22 participants were lodged in multiple venues across the city of Lahti. The Polish contingent arrive early at the congress centre for another day of activities.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Can Obeying the Law Lead Us to Kill God?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After a nutritious breakfast, attendees pack the main hall once more for spiritual nourishment. The morning devotional message by Sagunto Adventist College president Daniel Bosqued invites the thousands of young people listening to plug in once more, this time to God\u2019s Spirit.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11352\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11352\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-4-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11352 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-4-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-4-1.jpg 630w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-4-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-4-1-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-4-1-350x197.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11352\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Before the 4 August daily programme beings &#8211; a nutritious breakfast is essential!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Based on Jesus\u2019 sufferings recorded in John 19, Bosqued calls attention to what human beings can become when they move forward without God\u2019s Spirit. \u201cWhen we do not have the Spirit, even obeying the law can lead us to kill God,\u201d he says, referencing the religious leaders of Jesus\u2019 time. \u201cThe only way to truly follow God\u2019s law is by having the Spirit of God.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After worship and discussion in hundreds of small groups in more than a dozen languages, it is time again to keep learning. Many participants find difficult to choose just one of the simultaneous workshops offered. Most titles seem intriguing and inviting. The Thursday morning lineup includes, among others, \u201cBasic Rules to Find Lasting Love,\u201d \u201cMulticulturalism and Church,\u201d and \u201cHow to Survive a Faith Crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are Messi, Ronaldo, and Nadal Evangelists?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The afternoon lineup including a workshop on how to do urban ministry by South England Conference youth director Anthony Fuller, in what he called \u201cThe Plug in and Go Effect.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to Fuller, famous football players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and tennis player Rafael Nadal are some of the best evangelists. \u201cThey do what they do so well and with so much passion, that others feel inspired. Those who watch what they do then say, \u2018I want to be like them!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_11353\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11353\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-5-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11353\" src=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-5-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-5-1.jpg 630w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-5-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-5-1-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-5-1-350x197.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-11353\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u201cWe can\u2019t lead anyone further that we are ourselves,\u201d South England Conference youth director Anthony Fuller said in his 4 August workshop. \u201cBut bringing your own experience with Christ can change the face of evangelism.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It is what made the testimony of the disciples so powerful, Fuller emphasised, as he reflected on 1 John 1, where the apostle wrote, \u201cwhich we have heard, which we have\u00a0seen with our eyes,\u00a0which we have looked upon, and\u00a0our hands have handled\u2026 we declare to you\u201d (verse 1, 3). \u201cJohn is sharing what he has already experienced,\u201d Fuller said. \u201cEvangelism often fails because we have not experienced first what Jesus as the living water can do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It is the reason Fuller called for young Adventists to apply the \u201cPlug in and Go Effect.\u201d He explained, \u201cThe challenge has become that we have people around us who are thirsty, but we are also thirsty. We can\u2019t lead anyone further that we are ourselves. But bringing your own experience with Christ can change the face of evangelism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Small Olympics and Plugging in to Serve<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Concurrently with the afternoon workshops, activities included a \u201cSmall Olympics\u201d at a nearby stadium. Each country was invited to send its representatives to participate in various distances races, long jump, and shot put. There is also sports equipment for those who want it, and participants were encouraged to play volleyball, badminton, frisbee, table tennis, and more, organisers said.<\/p>\n<p>Around 6 pm, when the throng treads once more to the cafeteria hall for dinner, there are still several hours of sunlight in Lahti and more activities ahead. Before young people realise it, it will be time again for the evening message by David Asscherick. The topic for tonight? \u201cPlug &amp; Serve,\u201d reads the booklet. It might well be one more opportunity to plug into God\u2019s power to serve Him and others on behalf of His kingdom.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em><strong>tedNews<\/strong> is delighted to work in collaboration for AYC22 with Adventist Review Senior News Correspondent, Marcos Paseggi. Based in Ottowa, Canada, Marcos is attending AYC22 &#8211; in person &#8211; to report to the world church through the pages of Adventist Review and Adventist World. Posted so far this week:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/adventistreview.org\/commentary\/walk-through-the-door-that-god-is-opening-before-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>\u2018Walk through the Door that God Is Opening before You\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adventistreview.org\/news\/in-the-upper-room-or-in-the-forest-its-all-about-prayer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">In the Upper Room or in the Forest, It&#8217;s all about Prayer<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[Header photo: Daniel Kluska]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We have people around us who are thirsty &#8211; but we are also thirsty&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":11323,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1570,1584,7],"tags":[867,426,166,1159,111],"class_list":["post-11345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-discipleship-spiritual-growth","category-finland","category-news","tag-ayc","tag-congress","tag-finland","tag-marcos-paseggi","tag-youth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11345"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11398,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11345\/revisions\/11398"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}